Thanks

Dom

I’ve experienced a wide range of tibia position in my Zzero4s and the most un-natural thing I’ve felt is when I’ve engaged ski mode at the straighter setting, and then had it click into the more aggressive setting due to flexion at the ankle.

The Zzero4 CF has amazing lateral stiffness and response, better than my alpine boots. On relatively even fall lines in smoothish snow, it’s possible to ski almost completely laterally in the 4CF. It’s also possible when I have those rare zen moments when I’m centered on the skis no matter what the terrain.

The forward flex just seems a little soft to me for driving any ski stiffer than my T-Rocks. I weigh 150 lbs and ski reasonably fast in my alpine gear, but I slow it down on the Zzeros and T-Rocks. Aside from these things, I find the Zzeros amazing boots, super light, and very easy on the legs when skinning and hiking on steep boot-packed sections.

Sean – my use of the term “progressive flex” may be wrong, I am just picking it up from conversations with others and some comments from readers on the TetonAT.com discussion pages. In short, what I am referring to is while “progessive flex” means the boot can flex forward in a progressive, unlimited way, I believe the Zzeros have a tab in the inside cuff which acts to limit the forward flex of the cuff at a certain point. On the TetonAT comments a few people seem to have removed these limit tabs. thats all…

Anyway thanks for the clear info.

A soft boot is progressive compared to a Dobermann 150. So “progressive” can be a substitute for “flexible,” unless defined accurately.

I would be interested in what Andrew Sweet means when he worries about a boot not having “progressive” flexibility.

Personally speaking, I like a boot that allows me some forward flexion so that I may absorb small terrain irregularities with boot flexing. But I don’t like a huge range of ankle flexion when I’m skiing tough, heavy chunder at higher speeds, I’d like some boot support in that situation. My AT setup using the Zzero 4 provides me with great flexion in the boot, too much for really aggressive skiing in thick chowder at speed, but great for terrain absorption at lower speeds.

Boot flex is personal preference-oriented. It depends on skier strength, skier weight, skier anatomy, skier technique. Softer flexing boots will require the skier to provide the stability of position, whereas stiffer flexing boots will let the skier rely on the boot.

I’ve never skied in a boot that wasn’t progressive in flex. I wonder where these non-progressive boots reside. They seem to escape my attention.

I would not try to modify the Zzero for more flex, it is already a minimalist boot (which is why it’s well liked).